5 Reasons to Make your own Soap

You are in control of what goes in

If you don’t want to expose you or your family to harsh chemicals then making your own soap can guarantee they won’t be. You can control the ingredients used, the colour, the texture and smell as well as the ingredients that are included.

It makes a wonderful present

Homemade soap is a very thoughtful and nice present to give someone. Not only are they relatively cheap to make, they can be beautiful to look at and of course are a pleasure to use. They are a great item to fill your present drawer with too so if you are ever stuck without a gift for someone, you can head straight for your soap!

There are no chemicals included

The ingredient list on the back of a soap packet can display all sorts of unrecognizable chemicals. If you make your own soap you can guarantee it is chemical free. Furthermore, you can add your own ideas and turn soap into a nice, healthy product by including all sorts of additional essential oils and essences.

It saves you money

Making soap is definitely a cheaper alternative to buying it. Also, once you’ve been bitten by the soap making bug, the chances are you will want to start making other natural products like washing powder, floor cleaner and maybe even other cosmetics. It is possible to save a bundle when you make all cleaning products and cosmetics yourself.

It’s fun

There is no doubt about it, making soap is both a fun and satisfying hobby. You can let your creatively run wild, adding differing natural items, oils, essences and more into the recipes and even make some nice packaging to finish off the products. The whole family can get involved too so it can be a family project that you can all enjoy together.

Homemade Cosmetics: Beeswax

Beeswax can be used in a variety of cosmetics, creams and other beauty products that you are making at home. It works wonderfully as a thickening agent and emulsifier and can be used in the creation of hand creams, lotions, moisturizers, lip balms, hair products and plenty more cosmetics besides. It has soothing and softening properties that when used on the skin can help it retain moisture. Historically beeswax has been used as an antiseptic and research shows it was used to help heal wounds in days gone by.

Here are some very simple recipes for making cosmetics at home:

Moisturing Vitamin E Cream

4 oz. sweet almond oil
1 oz. beeswax
2 oz. water
10 drops Vitamin E oil
10 drops lavender essential oil

• Melt the oil and the wax then remove from heat, add water and stir thoroughly.
• Add Vitamin E oil, essential oil and stir continuously until cool.
• Once cool, poor into a cosmetic jar.

That is it. It is excellent for rough or particularly dry skin and provides excellent nourishment.

Coconut Butter Body Moisturizer

2 tablespoons beeswax
2 teaspoons distilled water
4 oz. cocoa butter
4 tablespoons sweet almond
2 tablespoons coconut oil

• Melt the beeswax over a very low heat with the water.
• Gradually add the cocoa butter and stir well to blend thoroughly.
• Gradually blend in oils until mixed thoroughly and pour into a glass cosmetic jar.

The lotion will thicken as it cools so don’t worry if it is quite thin and runny at first. It is particularly soothing for wind chapped or sun burnt skin.

Hand Cream

2 ounces beeswax
1 cup sweet almond oil
1 cup water
10 drops essential oil (if desired, for fragrance)

• Heat the beeswax and sweet almond oil together until the wax melts.
• In another container, heat the water until warm. The mixtures must not get too hot - it should still be possible to touch them.
• Place the warm water in a food processor and whilst on high speed, slowly add the beeswax-oil mixture.
• When most of the oil has been added, the mixture should begin to thicken.
• At this point, add the essential oil. Continue to add oil and blend until the mixture is sufficiently thickened.
• Spoon the thick cream into cosmetic jars.

These are some really simple recipes that produce some wonderful products. If any of you know other recipes, send them in to us here at Baldwins.

Homemade Soaps

Making soap is a wonderful pass time to have. Both relaxing and satisfying, you can unleash all your creativity that is undoubtedly lurking beneath the surface! Although soap is cheap to buy, it is often full of chemicals and ingredients that are not necessarily good for your skin, and can leave it irritated and dry.

When you make your own soap you can add as many ingredients as you like and design soap for a specific purpose. For example, you could make up a batch of soap designed for a pair of mechanics hands. By using ingredients such as turpentine and ground almonds for a pumice effect, this soap will clean even the most oily and grime caked hands, and leave them soft and lovely. By adding a splash of your favourite essential oil too, hands will smell wonderful as well.

Alternatively you can make clear soaps and add pretty flowers or rose petals. This will look great and with carefully selected essential oils, soap like this will be a treat for both the eyes and the nose.

Homemade soaps are a fantastic gift too. You can experiment with different packages and designs and the end result will be a fantastic looking product that you would be proud to add your name too. The chances are though you will want to keep the first batch of soap you make for yourself, as you will think it too good to give away.

There are many combinations of ingredients you can add to your soap and can experiment with a host of natural ingredients such as herbs, spices, olive oil, honey, milk, colourings even coconut. If you are looking for a hobby or fancy trying your hand at something creative, making your own soap could be just the thing.

At the moment here at Baldwins the Melt and Mold Soap Making kits are on special offer, so you can even save a few pennies in the process.

Do any of you make your own soaps? Do you have any combinations that you find work particularly well? Send in your comments.